Personal Papers
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Scope and Content
This small collection of family papers centers around Dr. Benjamin Bennett Briggs (1827-1893) whose 1849 diary chronicles his account of moving from Ohio to California by covered wagon. Briggs was the great-great-grandfather of the collection's donor, Dr. Chester Ward. In addition to the diary, the collection includes a small account book/diary from 1862--also kept by Briggs--as well as a number of letters to and from family members and photographs of family members across multiple generations. There are also a few Presbyterian missionary materials because Benjamin's daughter, Irene, married Samuel Lawrence Ward; they went to Persia as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church from 1876 to 1897. Other noteworthy items in the collection include a very small (and fragile) Arabic prayer book and an 1896 book of "pressed flowers from the Holy Land" in excellent condition.
Dates
- Creation: 1836 - 2020
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1850 - 1920
Creator
- From the Collection: Briggs, Abby Crane (Person)
- From the Collection: Briggs, Benjamin (Person)
- From the Collection: Briggs, Caroline Crane (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Extent
From the Collection: 4.92 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States
specol@usc.edu